Visible ripples in implants

Nancy, I had a revision 6 months after my initial implants. Went from 375 to 550cc. The reason was I and the PS felt that I did not have enough fullness and there was a large space between my breasts. When I was lying down, I felt flat in a bathsuit.   I also had a divot from where the cancer was removed that he felt could be covered by a larger implant.  I was happy I had the revision.  I had some excess skin taken in as well for a lift.  My PS said that ripples come from excess skin.  So perhaps with larger implants you could resolve  your issue. 

I had a revision because I didn't like the way it came out.... Did the doc mean the insurance didn't pay, or was he giving you a blanket answer, because if the latter was the case, that's not true;.

I am having my exchange Oct. 1st. I shared with my Plastic Doc that symmetry was important and as little rippling as possible. I am thin and he said that is part of it. He did not want to do the fat injection as he said it hasn't been around long enough. So he is going to use alloderm the same stuff he built the shelf for the implant. This will go on the inner curve and outer curves. I also don't like how far apart mine are. They were not close before either though. He said he might be able to get it a little closer but not much. I think you should maybe check into the coverage for a redo. One of the ladies in my support group just had it done. Insurance paid as it did toward the first time. Good luck

PB22- I think it's interesting that your PS said rippling comes from excess skin so to go with a larger implant.  And mine says it's from not enough skin, or too thin of skin, and that a larger implant will just make it worse.  Sure wish the PS's would all get on the same page.  Makes you think they're guessing most of the time.  Anyway, the way my PS explained it was by holding up an actual implant.  As it hung down you could see the ripples running down the side of it because an implant isn't completely "full".  She said when you have very tight, thin skin the ripples you see are those same ripples on the actual implant.  She said that implants were never designed to be used for reconstruction but for augmentation where they are covered with breast tissue.  

She does not like to do fat grafting as she said it's not that effective and can sometimes harden later into lumps.  I am curious whether anyone has had this done and did it resolve your rippling?  Or did you go with a larger or smaller implant and did that work? Or is there anything else that has been effective?  My PS used Alloderm when she placed the TE and even used considerably more during exchange and I still developed rippling.

great thread- I just had my exchange last week and already see a lot of ripples. I am hoping things change for the better. Will be asking my surgeon all about ripples on my next visit. I posted pics on the pic forum today of them.

Lee- so you went with smaller implants? It sounds like you got a great result. I am going to ask about the fat grafting too since my chest is so boney and I see the indent on one side too. I don't know if the practice I go to now even does fat grafting. I may need to look around. Did you post pics on the fourm?

Lee-Wow that is a big difference in size, but it's important that you got what you really wanted. I'm so glad your happier. That's all the counts.  At first I thought my implants were too small 450cc's. Now I'm getting used to them and I think they are just right (except for the ripples). I'm only a week and half out from my exchange too.  Do you have the address for the site on fat grafting? site I'm really interested in that option. For the pic forum on here you have to PM a member named Timtam to get access. After that you can set up a thread with your pics if you wanted to. I have a teenage daughter too. She didn't say much except mom, those are big enough!

Lee-very interesting. I am definately going to look into the fat grafting. I went to buy bras and try some clothes today. They are definately big enough for me at 450cc's. I would just like to reduce that rippling...I'll keep you posted. Glad your happy!

PB22- your so right about all we go through. After my initial "adjustment" period with the new implants I kind of calmed down. Once again I realized the hard facts that with BC there are a lot things we just have to accept. I am going to just wait and see how things change. I will see the Dr in about two weeks and I will ask what he thinks. I am guessing he's going to say ripples are the nature of implants. I already know he doesn't do fat grafting so I don't know what else there is.

This is a needed thread (Sweetie thanks for bringing me here). With 220s, I am one to attest to the fact that size does not seem to matter that much when it comes to ripples.  {I know, I know, I am like a quarter of what some sisters have but I am HUGE for me}  The ripples were noticable 5 wks post xchg.  I wonder if gals who get nipple sparing MXs have more rippling because the procedure requires taking out so much breast tissue. I can imagine if there was a way to control rippling I would be doing whatever I could to prevent it (but for now I am superfocused on scar healing).   Does anyone else struggle with worrying about this because they feel like we are not "allowed" to gripe given having been treated for the "C" word?

Lee - I am really impressed by your story!

a bit off subject but when I was researching what to do about rippling, I came across a very scary complication with implants called BOTTOMING OUT. Has anyone noticed this? Has anyone heard of it and how to prevent or treat it?? They say 24/7 bra-wearing is key. Alloderm also prevents it.

It is another negative, in addition to ripples, apparently, to having bigger (& heavier) implants. It is when the implant slowly sinks below the inframmary fold - drooping and falling out of the capsule.  {{{SHUDDER}}} Augmentation patients bottom out but we MX folks must be more prone to it because unlike with a boob job, we have no tissue left.

I must've missed that chapter in The Manual of 1,000,001 To Be Prepared For Before Starting Your BC Treatment.

Well, I can say that I had ripples when leaning over with my 375cc sized implant and when changed to larger no more ripples when leaning over.  Not one except that annoying divot where my biopsy and extra tissue was removed. Always something.    I am going to inquire about the fat grafting and see what my PS says. 

Today I am exactly 1 year out from dx.  I look at how far I've come.  Physicially have healed and getting stronger with my workouts, but emotionally was much stronger a year ago, probably from all the hope and anticipation and now its learning to live with it.

HI all (Hi Kate!, love your photo), I am 3 years out now (or almost) and I have this big old ripple that goes right across my foob sort of at a 65 degree angle.  It shows unless I use a push up bra.

I had the lat flap, so it isn't going out of the pocket and I too, was enormously upset when my PS said there was nothing else to be done.  I think this is because I had such thin skin after the skin sparing that the ripples show and he really doesn't want to go bigger (which would fix this) as the skin quality is compromised already and he doesn't want another breakdown due to crowding.

That said, I believe that fat grafting has come a very long way, and is one way to fix this. I will be seeing him semi soon and will be asking him about it when I do.

In time, you are so right, Sweetie, just like with aging, we get to accept some of the droops and lines.  We do come to accept the boob as it is, but we do not have to.  It is normal to feel this way, it is normal to be let down that it isn't perfect, as we go into it with such high expectations.

give it a little more time, and then address the ripples if you want to.  There are things that can be done about them.  Whippett mom knows all and can help if you PM her.

To me, I realized it was a sort of post traumatic stress syndrome.  It would not be mentally healthy to be upbeat and happy about it all the time.  The pendulum must swing back for balance and it will go back up again in a bit.

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

xoxox

Anniealso-aww thanks so much for you kind words. You made me feel so much better. I'm so blessed to have you girls to talk to you. Really this website has been all the support I have needed other than my family.

I brought a few sports bras yesterday and I find they are sooo comfortable. I think they are great to sleep in because they give you that continuous support. I think it is a good idea to try to keep things in place as much as you can because it's such a delicate balance not having real breast tissue in there and all that is holding us up is a little stretched muscle and maybe an alloderm sling and some stiches!

I had great pec muscles - I did strength training 3 times a week and routinely beat my son and nephew at push up contests.  Didn't give me an advantage - I still had rippling and other issues.  I didn't realize what a lasting impact TEs and implants would have on our pec muscles.